Department for Homes, Communities and Local Government Announce Land Release Fund Awards

£45 million funding boost to support councils unlock land for thousands of homes: 79 projects will receive funding to support building up to 7,280 homes on council owned land.

On Friday 18th February, Housing Minister Dominic Raab announced the funding awards for government’s Land Release Fund. The Land Release Fund competitively assessed bids from local authorities across the country on value for money, innovation, and the contribution to wider government housing objectives. A total of 79 bids were successful in the assessment process, which will see £45 million being awarded to 41 authorities, including Maidstone Borough Council who will receive a grant award of £658,000 to undertake decontamination, demolition and ground level works to deliver up to 94 homes, which includes 30% affordable housing.

The funding, targeted to tackle barriers to the release of council owned land for housing, will enable councils to release land for the development of 7,280 homes nationwide. The projects – which aim to support building strong communities – include a range of necessary works such as asbestos removal and bat alleviation, as well as schemes that will significantly improve quality of life such as essential relocating of a pelican crossing.

Housing and Planning Minister Dominic Raab said:

We are investing £45 million to build roads and provide utilities, so councils can release the land to get up to 7,280 new homes built.

It’s part of our strategy to build the homes Britain needs, and carry local communities with us.

We’re determined to make buying or renting more affordable for young families and those on low or middle incomes.